Argentine Government Ecstatic Over Corbyn Victory

President Cristina de Kirchner has hailed Jeremy Corbyn's election as Labour Party leader as 'a triumph of hope', sending an immediate letter of congratulation, which she released to the press, and several adulatory comments on Twitter. Argentina's Ambassador in London, Alicia Castro, claimed Corbyn as 'one of ours' and is quoted as saying that his election 'could decisively guide British public opinion towards favouring dialogue between the governments of the UK and Argentina' on the future sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

Such expectations may well prove wildly optimistic, since it remains to be seen whether the Labour Party under Corbyn could ever form a government. But there is a risk that Corbyn may nudge his Labour Party colleagues in Parliament towards a more acquiescent policy on the Falkland Islands. In doing so, he would be dishonouring the members of the Task Force and their successors sent to protect the freedom of the Falkland Islanders. For someone who claims to be a champion of human rights, Jeremy Corbyn seems to have a blind spot when he ignores the right of the Falkland Islanders to determine their political future.

Corbyn should be left in no doubt that there is broad, majority support in favour of protecting the rights of the Falkland Islanders and their wish to remain a British Overseas Territory. He may well be a lost cause along with some of his left wing allies but other Labour MPs may want to retain their chances of re-election. So lobby hard if there is real sign of the Labour Party shifting to a pro-Argentina policy.